Verse 9. '24,000.' In 1 Corinthians, chap, x., v. 8, the number is given as '23,000.'
Chapter xxvi., vv. 10 and 11. The Douay says, 'And there was a great miracle wrought; that when Core (Korah) perished, his sons did not perish.' Our version omits the miracle, out says, that 'the children of Korah died not:' yet in chap, xvi., vv. 32 and 33, we are told that 'the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods, they and all that appertained unto them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them, and they perished from among the congregation.'
Verse 12. 'Nemuel' is called 'Jemuel' in Genesis, chap, xlvi, v. 10.
Verse 13. 'Zerah' is called 'Zohar' in Genesis, chap, xlvi., v. 10.
Verse 16. 'Ozni' is called 'Ezbon' in Genesis, chap, xliv., v. 16. Verse 23. 'Pua' is called 'Phuvah' in Genesis, chap, xlvi., v. 13.
Verse 24. 'Jashub' is called 'Job 'in Genesis, chap, xlvi., v. 13.
Verses 64 and 65. Phinehas and Eleazar at least were left, if no more than they entered the promised land (vide Joshua, chap, xiv., v. 1, and chap, xxii., v. 13).
Chapter xxvii., v. 14. We have no account whatever of any rebellion by Moses. In Exodus, chap, xvii., it is the people who rebel against Moses.
Chapter xxxi. gives an account of the slaughter of the Midianites, and the destruction of their 'cities' and 'goodly castles' by 12,000 Jews, and the capture of 32,000 virgins, 675,000 sheep, 72,000 oxen, and 61,000 asses. The number or slain is not given; but it is easy to ascertain a minimum, if we reckon to each virgin for father, mother, brother, married sisters and their husbands, and other married females and their husbands, an average of four persons—which I conceive will be an estimate much under the true amount—we shall find 128,000 to have been slaughtered by 12,000 Jews, which is a statement rather difficult to believe. This difficulty is increased when we remember that the Midianites dwelt in 'cities' and 'goodly castles,' under shelter of which they could have contended against the attacks of the Jews. After all this fighting, the tired warriors must have had considerable trouble (especially if the captives resisted) in bringing back the spoil, which averaged to each man (supposing that all the Jewish soldiers had escaped unhurt) three virgins, fifty-six sheep, six oxen, and five asses, besides gold, silver, lead, iron, tin, brass, jewels, and other spoil. The Jews, however, were mighty warriors; and it has been previously noticed how two men slaughtered the whole of the inhabitants of a city,(see page 41). I am compelled to add, that verse 7, which says that the Jews slew 'all the males,' must be positively untrue, because if all were killed except the 32,000 virgins taken captive, there would be an end to the Midianitish nation; while in Judges, chap, vi., we actually find the Midianites more powerful than the Israelites.
Verse 16. This 'counsel of Balaam' is never mentioned before.